Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-07-08

HtI, UIl1tss YOU hHpVtn 10 Speak TO her I
about literature, or art or philosophy. or
of that kind"
You are probably right, !" returned the |
inspector, indifferently. Meanwhile he |
had written down word on slip of |
paper; and now, opening a drawer, he |
dropped the slip into 1t. "What you have |
noticed at Grady's may be of use to us
when the time comes" he continued,
smiling. "When all the pieces are fitted |
together, bit of evidence that seems
nothing in itself, may turn out the key
stone of the arch. Still, have my doubts
as to the possibility of proving anything
on Grady"
"By the way" said the journalist,
what is that story | hear about a hole
being drilled under the combination
plate ?"
"a hole had been drilled there some
time ago. That's all know"
How did anybody get into the bank to
drill it ?"
Il don't know"
81 have heard that it must have been
somebody on the outside of the bank or a
favored depOsitor who gave the thieves the
information that enabled them to bore
that hole in the right place"
81 have never heard that the bank
officials suspected any one"
1T is certainly very mysterious case,
inspector, and | wish you every success"
the journalist said, rising to depart.
The inspector shrugged his shoulders
and laughlngly said " If you would have
occasion to buy any more diamonds, |
should advise you to be careful where you
bought them, rs under some clrcum-
stances they could he identified"
The journalist looked little crestfallen
and sad to the inspector; | understand
You thoroughly" and then departed.
When the inspector was once more
alone he touched a bell, and one of his
most trusted lieutenants entered the room
" 1tlmay be AS we'll" the inspector said
to continue to keep an eye on the gentle
man who has just gone out, for, whether
by coincidence or otherwise, he has hap
pened upon an idea that has lately been
presented to me in definite and more or
less authoritative form, | want you to
take hold of this matter and follow it up
for all 1t is worth, which may be much or
little and meanwhile take care that this
journalistic gentleman does not NEEDLE.
If he is on the scent, turn him off"
what, have you something new, in
spector 2"
Yes There is a gentleman of wealth
and position in this city-to prevent con
fusion | will call him Mr. Smith. He is a
man of about forty years of age and the
son of an extensive coal mine owner of the
last generation. He is reputed to be worth
anywhere up to four or five million dol
lars.
- He is single man and lives alone in a
handsome house Just off the avenue. He
owns some good horses and you may see
him driving in the park any fine day. He
is member of one OF the big clubs, but
very seldom is seen there He might 90
into the best of society if he chose, but
as a matter of fact there is scarcely
family of distinction in town that has him
on its visiting list. He isn't student,
either, or a book collector, or an art con
noisseur, or anything of that kind. He
never invites anybody to his house, and
how he contrlves to amuse himself is more
than anybody can say. Altogether, quite
an eccentric person.
He doesn't conform to the usual habits
and customs of the fashionable world,
but lives exactly as his humor suits him.
Often in the midst of the season he will
be out of town and when everybody is at
Newport ahd Saratoga you will find him
walking up and down Fifth avenue or
wandering about other quite different
quarters of the city. He is a man you
would easily notice--over five feet ten in
height, weighs about one hundred and
eighty pounds, high, bald forehead, long
dark mustache, aquiline nose, small chin,
dresses well. with a big watch chain, and
an amethyst ring on his lett hand.
AS to his property, there Is reason to
believe that 1t is nearly all invested in
Government securities, but ii IS impos-
sible to be entirely certain on this point,
fiy the amonnt NJ II Rnt from w,hnt can
he learned Of his late faI her's fortnne and
inferred from his own manner of living. it
must be. if not so large as | have men
toned, at any rate sufficient to render HIM
quite Indifferent TO what he speuds. He
has never been engaged in any business
and has never interested himself in any
political transaction"
" Well, he's a queer man to be an
American ~ interiected the detective ser
geant.
There are good many kinds of Am
erlcans," the chief reiolned :" But, such
as he Is, he is the gentleman by whose
means there seems chance Of solving
the mystery of the Manhattan Bank bur
olary. =
:" 4 man ,vortb million VOL that
yon1d ha intarnstinr, =, r.markaj tba
other. "Wnat 9ronnds do Won 90 mon ~
49, far nr1n tha ,,ai,,ast IN fariancae
only hut tbayy are very cnrions ones 10
begin with. the day after that hole was
drilled In The safe Mr.. smith came into
the bank with a blll to change. and
louuged about there. watching the efforts
of the eypert and chatting with the clerks
now and then. during n good mart of the
morning That was nothing in itself brt